| Add-on I/O for Control Networks |
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Control Solutions offers a number of products for adding I/O capacity to open systems. These products fall into two categories:
1. I/O connected to local control networks.
2. I/O connected to wide area networks or Internet.
Point counts found in the various I/O products range from 6 to 32 I/O points per network node. Protocols supported include BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus, and SNMP. Internet enabled products also support the common Internet protocols including HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP3, etc.
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I/O for Local Control Networks
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Control Solutions offers I/O for local control networks running BACnet MS/TP, Modbus RTU, or LonWorks TP/FT-10 (Free Topology). Configuration software is PC based. The software can be downloaded from the Downloads Page at no charge; however, a communications interface will be required. For RS-485 based networks, you will need an RS-232 to RS-485 adapter if your PC still has a COM port, or a USB to RS-485 adapter. For LonWorks, you will need a LonTalk interface, such as PCC-10 (PC card) or U10 (USB). Any of these are often nicknamed "dongles".
Control Solutions also recently introduced the MS/TP Tool Box, which we affectionately refer to as the "super dongle". This is a special form of adapter that connects between your PC's Ethernet port, and the MS/TP network. This adapter is the only means of communicating with MS/TP devices at 76800 baud since PC hardware does not support this baud rate. All configuration software for MS/TP devices offered by Control Solutions is included in this adapter, and it only requires a standard web browser to use it.
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I/O for Wide Area and Internet
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Control Solutions offers I/O for wide area networks (WAN) and Internet using Modbus TCP or BACnet IP as the direct control network, or standard Internet protocols including HTTP. Configuration software is web based, using the embedded server found in the device itself. You only need a PC with a standard browser to configure any of this network I/O. Online help is included in a "Quick Help" section at the bottom of each page in the web site found inside the device. Demo copies of the various product's internal web sites may be found here.
There is really no distinction between WAN/Internet I/O and embedded servers. You may use these devices as just slave I/O on Modbus TCP or BACnet IP networks, and only use the embedded web server for configuration. Or you may use all of the server features and provide a web based user interface, send emails, etc. Some models support data logging, and will automatically email the log in CSV format on a daily or weekly basis.
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Freely Programmable I/O
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The majority of Control Solutions's I/O products are programmable. The programming capability is at a level often referred to as a "Soft PLC". Both line and graphical programming are supported. If you do not upload a control program, the devices will function as simple slave I/O.
More information about programming may be found here.
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This is one of several Applications pages that may now be found on our web site. It is our goal to continue adding more applications information over time to help you find new tips, techniques, and helpful information for using our network and Internet enabled devices. We welcome your feedback. Please email support@csimn.com with your suggestions about how we can help you more effectively. If you have technical questions that you would like a response to, please open a support ticket - start by clicking Support above.
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